Mainland's Powell to play in Under Armour All-America game on ESPN

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.

It has been a pretty big week for Mainland's Quinton Powell.

Facts

WHEN: 5 p.m. FridayWHERE: Tropicana Field, St. PetersburgTV: ESPNTICKETS: General admission tickets are $18, and family four packs $48. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at Ticketmaster outlets.

Not only did the Buccaneers senior see his first football card roll into production – he posted a picture to his Facebook page of him signing the special cards for fans at the Under Armour All-America festivities – but he will also take to the field to compete for the white team in the Under Armour All-America game.

Powell said via Twitter that he will wear No. 18 for the White team – coached by former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci -- in the game which is scheduled to air live 5 p.m. Friday on ESPN. The game will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

““Everybody doesn't get this opportunity,” Powell said in December after accepting the invitation to play in the game. “With those types of guys coaching you … you just try to absorb everything.

“I can't wait,” he added. “I had two opportunities to play (against top competition) over the summer. I know everybody will be watching this game, and I can't wait to prove to everybody who thought I couldn't do something like this (that they were) wrong.”

Powell — the 80th-ranked senior in the nation, according to ESPN — follows in the footsteps of his former Mainland teammate, Leonard Williams. Williams played in the Under Armour game last year, then went on to sign with Southern Cal and was named Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year this season.

Under Armour was the second All-America game offered to Powell. He was also invited to play in the Semper Fidelis All-America Bowl which will also be played Friday (9 p.m., NFL Network).

Powell (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) played mostly defensive end for Mainland this season. He recorded 94 tackles and led the area in tackles for loss (34) and sacks (12). He is projected as a linebacker at the college level and is listed on the White roster as an outside linebacker.

Powell committed to Florida in February but reopened his recruiting in December. He has scheduled a visit to Southern Cal for Jan. 18 and has said he will also likely visit South Carolina, Oregon and Miami before National Signing Day (Feb. 6).

<p>It has been a pretty big week for Mainland's Quinton Powell. <ep> </p><p>Not only did the Buccaneers senior see his first football card roll into production – he posted a picture to his Facebook page of him signing the special cards for fans at the Under Armour All-America festivities – but he will also take to the field to compete for the white team in the Under Armour All-America game. <ep></p><p>Powell said via Twitter that he will wear No. 18 for the White team – coached by former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci -- in the game which is scheduled to air live 5 p.m. Friday on ESPN. The game will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. <ep></p><p>““Everybody doesn't get this opportunity,” Powell said in December after accepting the invitation to play in the game. “With those types of guys coaching you … you just try to absorb everything.<ep></p><p>“I can't wait,” he added. “I had two opportunities to play (against top competition) over the summer. I know everybody will be watching this game, and I can't wait to prove to everybody who thought I couldn't do something like this (that they were) wrong.” <ep></p><p>Powell — the 80th-ranked senior in the nation, according to ESPN — follows in the footsteps of his former Mainland teammate, Leonard Williams. Williams played in the Under Armour game last year, then went on to sign with Southern Cal and was named Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year this season. <ep></p><p>Under Armour was the second All-America game offered to Powell. He was also invited to play in the Semper Fidelis All-America Bowl which will also be played Friday (9 p.m., NFL Network). <ep></p><p>Powell (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) played mostly defensive end for Mainland this season. He recorded 94 tackles and led the area in tackles for loss (34) and sacks (12). He is projected as a linebacker at the college level and is listed on the White roster as an outside linebacker. <ep></p><p>Powell committed to Florida in February but reopened his recruiting in December. He has scheduled a visit to Southern Cal for Jan. 18 and has said he will also likely visit South Carolina, Oregon and Miami before National Signing Day (Feb. 6). <ep></p>